Charitable Giving in Fort Collins, Colorado

Charitable giving in Fort Collins, Colorado is the donating of money or some other asset to a charitable cause.

The vast majority of charitable gifts are made using the most simple method feasible: giving the gift to the intended beneficiary.

What if, on the other hand, a donor wishes to give everything they own (or a substantial chunk of everything they own) to a charity? This is quite generous, of course, but it's rarely possible during life, considering the expenses and commitments we all have. On the other hand, most people don't think they'll be needing their money after they die. Knowing this, many arrangements have been created authorizing a person to have as much of their money as they want transferred to a charity of their choice after their death.

There are many arrangements authorizing you to donate some or all of your assets to a charitable cause after your death, but direct testamentary gifts (simply leaving money in your will to the charity of your choice) are the most prevalent.

Charitable Trusts in Fort Collins, Colorado

Charitable trusts are arrangements that involve handing possession (but not always ownership) of money or property over to a charity, either during the donor's life, or after their death.

While the money, for a time at least, is still technically owned by the donor, it is possessed and controlled by the charity, which acts as a trustee. The trustee is then able to use the money for the charitable purposes which have been laid out in the agreement that initially formed the trust.

The most customary kind of charitable trust in Fort Collins, Colorado is a charitable remainder trust. This permits you to give as much money or property as you want to a charity. The money is then invested by the charity. The investments are typically fairly conservative, sacrificing large returns for security. The charity then returns a portion of these returns to the donor, or another person named by the donor, while keeping the rest. This lasts for a set period of time, at the end of which the charity gets complete ownership of the original fund.

Wanting to help a charitable cause is, of course, a good thing. Nonetheless, some people seek to take advantage of our good intentions through fraudulent charities. If you want to help ensure that any money you donate to an organization is directly used for a charitable cause, and that your donation will be tax-deductible, you should check to see that the organization is truly tax-exempt. You can find this information from the IRS and/or the agency accountable for taxation in

Do I Need a Fort Collins, Colorado Attorney?

If you want to set up a charitable trust, you should first speak with a representative of the charity you want to support. You should also talk with an efficient attorney in Fort Collins, Colorado, who will be able to help you navigate the legal details, making it easier to give effect to your intentions.

Life in Fort Collins

Fort Collins is a medium-sized city. It is a home-rule municipality, meaning that it is not part of any county, and the state of Colorado has delegated some of its authority to the city, which the city can exercise within its own borders. It has a population of about 137,000.
Fort Collins is generally known as a college town, being home to Colorado State University. The city of Fort Collins frequently ranks near the top of Money Magazine's list of best places in the U.S. to live.
Because of the large college-aged demographic, Fort Collins has a thriving music and art scene, as well as a large number of well-regarded microbreweries.
Fort Collins has a healthy and diverse economy, with major employers such as Colorado State University, Hewlett Packard, AMD, Wal-Mart, and many others providing thousands of public and private-sector jobs, in a wide variety of fields.
Given its size, diversity, and vitality, it should come as no surprise that, with all the business that's done in Fort Collins, there are sometimes legal issues. For that reason, it shouldn't be a surprise that there are many Fort Collins, Colorado lawyers who are very skilled. If you're facing a legal issue, a Fort Collins, Colorado lawyer can help.

Mr. B. is a terrific lawyer and I am extremely happy with his work. What I liked most about him was his timely responses. I highly recommend Mr. B..

CLIENT REVIEWS

Brad M.

Sussex, NJ

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Rating
(10 users)

Overall

Responded in a timely manner

Answered questions clearly

Understood needs

Gave complete and clear information

Knowledgeable in legal area

Good value for money

Would hire again

100%

Would recommend to friend

100%

by Daniel G. , 08/29/2014

by Brian C. , 07/13/2014

Brad has helped me through four post-divorce motions over the last couple of years. He was a pleasure to work with and his staff is top notch. He treated me with respect and showed a personal interest in my needs and my case. Responses to my questions were always met with speedy and helpful responses. He did everything possible to get positive results and an outcome that was fair. Although the court can be unpredictable in their rulings, I feel I had positive outcomes in all of my motions thanks to Brad. I would recommend Brad for anyone going through divorce or post-divorce issues.

by Roberto R. , 07/11/2014

Mr. M. Knows his stuff and make sure you understand the pros and cons of the decision you make

by Mary Katherine F. , 02/19/2011

good

by Iris T. , 08/05/2009

Brad has not only provided me with legal advice and services but emotional support as well. He is professional and very sensitive to his client's needs. I am more than satisfied by his services. He knows how to listen and put my insecurities/fears away. I highly recommend him...he is the whole package!

by David P. , 08/04/2009

Brad and his team were excellent. He clearly understood my situation, developed a strategy and delivered everything as planned. His office was always responsive and professional. I would certainly recommend him. Brad was the only attorney I spoke to that had a vision and predicted with exacting detail, every move that the other side was going to make. This put me on the offensive for the first time. I was completely satisfied. 100%

by Mary G. , 07/31/2009

This has been the best experience I have ever have. I would recommend Brad M. to anyone that would need an experienced wonderful caring attorney for family law.

by Gregory V. , 07/11/2014

by Sheeba S. , 12/25/2009

In the middle of all my turmoil i'm grateful the for the sensible guidance given to me by Brad M. M..He is an excellent listener, who calmly gave suggestions to my confused situation.I would surely reccomend him to anybody,especially to those who are sceptical of lawyers.He was more interested in finding a solution to my problem than asking for a fee.He is THE BEST. sheba, NJ

by Lisa Marie J. , 07/31/2009

Brad is very patient and knowledgeable. I felt he was genuinely pursuing and protecting my best interests.

CLIENT REVIEWS

David L.

Ashland, OH

Wills, Trusts and Estates

Rating
(5 users)

Overall

Responded in a timely manner

Answered questions clearly

Understood needs

Gave complete and clear information

Knowledgeable in legal area

Good value for money

Would hire again

100%

Would recommend to friend

100%

by Julie W. , 11/07/2015

David L. helped with our will and estate planning. He did a great job. Everything was done on time and went according to plan.

by Nichole B. , 06/01/2015

He was very helpful. The best I have talked to.

by Kris S. , 05/04/2015

David was always frank and helpful. He was up front about costs and the prospects about the outcome. He worked hard to control the costs in my case while providing first class service that included some evening and weekend communication. He helped me understand the law as it related to my case and managed all of the dealings with the courts and the clerks.

by Tom P. , 12/12/2014

I am already recommending David L. to my family members and friends. He provided my wife and I with all that we hoped for in successfully planning our estate documents.